Horror Then & Now

Course Details

The horror genre has stimulated the public's interest for centuries, and it shows no signs of going away any time soon. Certain themes in horror, such as the fear of death, fear of outsiders, and fear of violence in general have persisted despite changes in technology, science, and medium. From Edgar Allan Poe to Stephen King and from short stories and films to graphic novels, TV, and video games, ghosts and hauntings of various kinds have terrified and intrigued us with their simple emotions and complex metaphorical meanings. Often, the ghost or the killer stands in for a more realistic fear that many in society share, such as fears of our own vulnerability and mortality, or fears of a coming apocalypse. Through an examination of various sub-genres of horror, we will discover both how common horror stories have been adapted over the years and how modern developments have forever changed the face of horror.